PMP Certification - Frequently Asked Questions

Are you approved by the Project Management Institute (PMI)®?

Yes, we have been reviewed and approved as a provider of project management training by PMI. As a PMI Registered Education Provider (R.E.P.), we abide by PMI established quality assurance criteria. Our REP number is 3348.

What forms of payment do you accept?

We accept all major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover). We also accept payment by check, wire transfer or approved purchase orders. We also accept government training funds, which includes an approved SF-182.

Can my company pay with a purchase order?

Yes. Simply register for the course you wish to attend, then on step 2 of the checkout process, select the billing type: "Quote / Purchase Order / Check." Purchase orders should be sent by fax to 408-521-3770 or emailed to contact@projectmanagementacademy.net. Please note that your seat is not confirmed until we receive either payment or an approved purchase order. For credit card orders your seat is always confirmed as soon as you place the order.

Can I get a quote for my training?

Yes, our system allows you to create a quote. Simply register for the course you wish to attend, then on step two of the checkout process select the billing type: "Quote / Purchase Order / Check." Purchase orders should be sent by fax to 408-521-3770 or emailed to contact@projectmanagementacademy.net. Please note that your seat is not confirmed until we receive either payment or an approved purchase order. For credit card orders, your seat is always confirmed as soon as you place the order.

Are exam fees included in the tuition?

Exam fees are not included. They must be paid directly to PMI as part of the application process. The cost to take the exam is $544 total ($139 to join PMI and $405 for the exam fees). You can pay for the exam without joining PMI, at a cost of $555. Since joining PMI saves you $11 on exam fees and you also receive PMI member benefits, we recommend becoming a PMI member before applying to take the exam.

Can I buy a course even though I'm not sure when and where I can take it?

Yes, we have a voucher program that allows you to purchase a voucher before deciding when and where you want to attend. Vouchers can be used in any city in which we offer the course. You can register for a voucher by clicking this link: PMP Training Voucher. Note that you can obtain group discounts by purchasing multiple vouchers, which provide substantial savings for your organization.

Do I receive a certificate upon completing the course?

Yes, you will receive a certificate of completion showing that you completed the course and earned the 35 contact hours required to sit for the exam. We provide you with a paper version on the last day of class, but also allow you to download a PDF version from our online training portal in case you lose the original or need to send a copy to PMI if you get audited.

Does your course satisfy the 35 contact hours needed to sit for the exam?

Yes, our PMP course is approved by PMI for the 35 contact hours (aka PDUs) required to sit for the PMP exam. We provide you with a certificate of completion at the end of the course that you can submit to PMI if you get audited.

When do I get my course materials?

You can access all of our online training tools immediately upon registration. All other training materials, such as A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide), binder, laminates, formula sheets, etc., are provided in the classroom.

Can I re-schedule my eLearning course?

Yes, you may re-schedule your course as many times as you like at no charge. We kindly ask that you provide us with at least one week's notice. You can re-schedule your course by calling or emailing us. You can also re-schedule yourself from within our online training portal.

If you're unsure of the date, we can convert your registration into a voucher to be used for any course date and city. Please call customer service to make these arrangements.

What is the latest date that I can sign up for the class?

You can sign up for the course up until the day before class begins. However, we have limited seating capacity and many of our courses fill up well in advance. We therefore advise students to register at least a few weeks before the course begins.

How does the pass guarantee work?

Our pass guarantee is simple. You must attend the entire course and complete three full-length practice exams from our online training portal. If you do not pass the PMP exam in three attempts, we will refund your entire course tuition, provided that all attempts occurred within 120 calendar days of completing the course.

How soon after the course should I take the exam?

Each student is different, so there is no "one size fits all" approach. The average student takes the exam roughly ten days after the course. You should plan to spend some time studying after class to make sure you are ready. We provide you with a lot of resources to help you prepare, so you will want to set aside time after class to utilize these tools. We also provide metrics along with our practice tests, which will help you know when you are ready.

One of the many tools we provide is a complete online version of the course. If you are looking to take the exam quickly after the course, we recommend watching those videos prior to attending class. We also recommend all students read the PMBOK® Guide prior to class if possible. PMI provides an electronic copy, which is downloadable from its website once you become a member.

Can I take the exam on the 5th day (the day after the course)?

We strongly advise our students not to follow this approach, as the statistics show it to be seriously flawed. The PMP exam is difficult, and you will naturally want to take some time to solidify what you learned in class (using the many training resources we provide).

Moreover, you may feel a little drained after the 4-day boot camp. You should allow some time to decompress and relax, instead of having the added pressure of testing right after class.

The PMP exam is harder now than it was for previous versions of the PMBOK® Guide. Simply put, the day-5 testing model drastically lowers your chances of passing, and causes unnecessary stress as well.

Can I apply for the PMP exam prior to attending the live course?

You can apply for the PMP exam before attending the course, provided you have already completed the required 35 hours of PM training needed to sit for the exam. Most students wait until the live course is completed, at which time they will have earned the necessary 35 hours to apply for the exam, and that's what we generally advise students to do. However, circumstances sometimes require students to get certified within a short timeframe.

For students facing a time crunch, we offer an accelerated training option. In addition to the live PMP course, we also provide every student with a full online (Video-On-Demand) version of the course. Students who do not already have their 35 hours of PM training can use the online materials to earn their 35 contact hours before the live course (this requires reading the PMBOK® Guide, reading our PMP Strategy Guide, watching all online videos, completing all quizzes with a score of 75% or better, and taking 3 full-length practice exam with at least one exam score of 80% or better). Students would then be in a position to schedule the exam before attending the live course, and could test immediately thereafter if they wish.

As a word of caution, we generally do not recommend taking the PMP exam immediately after completing the course. While it certainly can be done, it requires extra preparation prior to the live course. We recommend allowing yourself at least 1 week of study after the live course to ensure that you are fully prepared.

When and where do I take the exam?

The PMP exam is administered at Prometric testing centers. Prometric has hundreds of centers worldwide and usually offers the PMP exam Monday through Saturday. Since each center is independently operated, you should check with your local center for hours of operation and exam availability. You can locate the centers nearest you by visiting www.prometric.com. Note that, in some cases, the availability of testing appointments reflected online may seem rather limited. We recommend you call the center directly if this happens, as the availability shown online may not always reflect the true availability (due to cancellations, re-scheduling, etc.). Our students have found this to be very helpful in many cases.

What happens if I get audited?

The audit process sounds painful, but it is actually pretty simple.

You will know if you have been audited immediately after submitting payment for the exam (you will receive an e-mail if you are selected for the audit). Roughly 5-10% of all candidates will be audited. You will be asked to document your PDU contact hours, which you will do using the certificate we provide. You will also have the references you list in your application verify that the work experience you entered is correct (they will just complete a simple form, sign it and send it to PMI).

Since the reference person can be anyone who was working with you on the projects, we recommend listing references with whom you are still in contact and will respond quickly (where possible).

Most people can easily complete the audit process in a week or less. As part of our course we will walk you through the entire application process and assist you with any questions you may have. We also offer free post-class tutoring and assistance with the application, so you will have plenty of support along the way.

How do I prove my experience?

You will document your experience in your online application (www.pmi.org). You must list projects you have worked on, along with a reference person. Your job title need not be "project manager," but you will need to show that you were leading and directing project activities. To keep everyone honest, PMI audits about 5-10% of candidates (see: "What happens if I get audited?").

Where is the course located?

Course locations are displayed on our website. Please refer to the bottom of the PMP Exam Prep page or the Contact Us page. Approximately 10 days before class begins, you will receive a course logistics document via email confirming the course location and other helpful details.

Do you provide financial assistance?

Unfortunately, professional training such as the PMP does not qualify for federal financial aid programs. If you are between jobs, however, you may inquire about your state's workforce development benefits. Our program is currently approved for such benefits in Colorado, and we expect more states will follow in the near future.

Are you covered by the VA?

No. Unfortunately, training courses such as ours fall under the exam preparation exclusion and are therefore ineligible for VA funding (though the cost of the exam would likely be covered).

How many students are in the course?

Class sizes vary by location and date, but the average class size is 10 to 15 students.

Can I get a digital copy of the PMBOK® Guide?

Yes, if you are a PMI member you can download a free copy of the PMBOK® Guide. Simply visit www.pmi.org and log in. Scroll over the main menu item "PMBOK® Guide and Standards," then click the sub-menu item titled "Learn more about A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) - Sixth Edition". From that page you can download a free copy of the PMBOK® Guide.

Once I register, how do I access the online training portal?

At the top of our website there is a "My Account" link. Click on that and log in using the email address you registered with and the password that was e-mailed to you after you registered. If you lose your password, there is a password reset option, which requires your email address used during registration.